(File photo by Mohamed Omar)
A 19 year old student from Dar Salam went missing on Friday but was found later the same day showing signs of being tortured. He is currently being treated in Ain Shams university hospital for post traumatic stress disorder.
Mostafa Abdel Maguid went missing after he had written on his Facebook page on Thursday that he would name the policemen who allegedly abused and raped him in August at an event he was planning to attend on Saturday.
Doctor Sally Tuma, who works for the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies and is treating Abdel Maguid, said “when he was found on Friday his hair was burnt and was falling out in my hands. It seems as if an electric gun had been used. The hair around his penis and his back were also burnt. He couldn’t remember a thing.”
Abdel Maguid was first arrested by police for protesting outside the Syrian embassy in August. While he was detained he was allegedly abused and raped by policemen. Tuma confirmed there were marks on his body that support this claim. Tuma also said Abdel Maguid was detained again a month later by police, who performed a rectal cavity search on him. It is not clear what they were looking for.
There is uncertainty over Friday’s incident due to Abdel Maguid’s mental state. Tuma said, “when people go through such trauma, it is common for there to be a psychological effect… it is still not possible to say that the police did this to him.”
On the two previous occasions Abdel Maguid was seen being arrested by the police, this time nobody saw this happen.
Abdel Maguid attended an event on Saturday with Tuma. She said, “about two hours into the event he turned and began imitating a police officer. He presented a danger to himself and others. I admitted him to Ain Shams university hospital where he is now recovering.”
The Ministry of Interior was unavailable for comment.
